There are a number of categories that you can enter in this year’s awards. These are listed below, along with the criteria for each one.
University Students’ Association of the Year
- What is the Students’ Association’s vision and how has this been developed and achieved buy-in from relevant stakeholders?
- How is the association working towards and achieving best practice in planning and objective setting?
- What tangible mechanisms to obtain student feedback are being used and is this information being used to improve the association?
- How is the association positively contributing to the student experience?
- How has the association demonstrated improvement in the past year, in terms of participation, influence and structures?
- What successful campaigns and impacts have the association had?
College Students’ Association of the Year
This award is encouraged to be entered by either individual or merged College Students’ Associations or by groups of College Students’ Associations who are in the process of merging together.
- What has your Students’ Association achieved this year?
- How has your Association been gathering student opinion over the year? What have you done with this information? Have you used it to improve your Association, students’ experiences at college or to help the merger of your college?
- How have you improved from last year in terms of participation, influence and structures? This might be how you work as an Association, how you influence the college or how many people you have involved.
- What have you changed as a result of your campaign work? This could be related to your merger, the student experience or being part of a national campaign.
- How is the Association positively contributing to the student experience?
Course Rep of the Year
- What were the problems faced by fellow students on the course?
- What was the student representative’s contribution to solving them?
- Please explain the positive impact they made on students’ experience.
- Why they are worthy of recognition?
University Students’ Association Officer of the Year
- What have they done over and above the normal expectations for their role and so deserve recognition?
- Have they been an inspiration to others, and in what way?
- What impact have they made on the Students’ Association, to achieving its aims and objectives, and how these have impacted on the student experience?
- How have they been an inspiration to the students they represent?
- How have they improved participation in their area of the association?
College Students’ Association Officer of the Year
- What have they done over and above the normal expectations for their role and so deserve recognition?
- Have they been an inspiration to others, and in what way?
- What impact have they made on the Students’ Association, to achieving its aims and objectives, and how these have impacted on the student experience?
- How have they been an inspiration to the students they represent?
- How have they improved participation in their area of the association?
Students’ Association Staff Member of the Year
- What has the staff member has done beyond the call of duty and so deserve recognition?
- Who has benefitted from their work and commitment?
- Have they been an inspiration to others, and in what way?
- What impact have they made on the Students’ Association and the student population?
- How have they contributed to the work of the Students’ Association, its aims and objectives?
Student of the Year
- What has the student done to be an example of an outstanding and inspirational student and so deserve recognition?
- Who has benefitted from the student’s actions?
- Have they been an inspiration to others, and in what way?
- Are there any barriers the student has overcome to achieve what they have, and what are they?
- What impact has the student made on the student population or local community?
- What level of dedication (in terms of time, resources and effort) has the student shown?
Campaign of the Year
- What was the campaign, and what did it aim to achieve?
- How did the campaign demonstrate best practice in planning, communication, team working and evaluation?
- What did the campaign achieve and what quantifiable impact did it have on others locally or nationally?
- How did the campaign show creativity in the delivery of campaign objectives through events, activities and communication channels?
- How did the campaign utilise resources within the student body, local stakeholders and/or the media?
Best Student Media
- How has the media outlet ensured quality of its output whilst encouraging student participation?
- What measures has the media outlet has sought to meet its objectives and target audience?
- How has the media outlet been used to campaign and raise awareness of student issues, what impact has this made?
- What levels of student participation in the production and student uptake of the media outlet?
- What examples of improvements made in the past year have been implemented?
- How has the media outlet encouraged students on non-media courses to contribute?
Student Journalist of the Year
- How has the student journalist taken information and converted it into high quality and compelling content on their chosen media outlet?
- How have they made a positive impact to the student population – this can be through the content of the stories they have covered or from their dedication to student media?
- What journalistic competencies and skills have they shown through their work?
Club or Society of the Year
- What successes has the club or society since July 2011?
- What are, and how can you demonstrate the levels of student participation in the club?
- How has the club or society has made the most of its resources to meet its objectives and made an impact?
- How has the club or society has contributed to the student experience in a positive way?
- What activities that have been of benefit to the student population or the wider community has the club or society taken part in or led?
Community Relations Award
- How has the Students’ Association has had a significant impact on the local community?
- How has the association demonstrated evidence of best practice in planning, communication, team working and evaluation?
- What evidence of creativity in the delivery of work objectives through events, activities and communication channels?
- What evidence of the ability to effectively utilise resources within the student body, local stakeholders and/or the media?
- What quantifiable impact or change to the target community or beneficiaries have been made?
Equality and Diversity Award
- How has the association and its structures strengthened equality and diversity activities in areas such as staff recruitment, accessible student activities and involvement of under represented groups in student democracy?
- How has the association shown development of innovative projects and initiatives that have promoted equality and diversity?
- How have these projects helped to improve equality and diversity?
Disabled Students Experience Award
- In the last year, what have you changed to improve the lives of current and future disabled students?
- How have you been involved with any disabled students activities / campaigns?
- Describe how you have worked with your institution and external partners to improve your campus.
- What are the ideas in your long term strategy to continually improve?
